Aliso council puts off decision on live/work, townhome changes

The Aliso Viejo City Council wants to hold off on deciding what to do about City Walk, a live/work community that developer Shea Homes says has been less successful than planned.

The council voted 5-0 on Wednesday night to table discussion of City Walk and the rest of the Vantis development at Aliso Viejo Parkway and Grand Avenue following a debate among homeowners who live at the site. Some owners believe proposals to reduce the number of planned live/work units from 41 to 35, increase the number of planned townhomes from 266 to 274 and install a park would help the property cope with a tougher-than-anticipated market.

To date, 31 live/work units and 229 townhomes have been built, according to a city staff report.

The council directed staff to talk with Shea Homes and check on the legality of businesses operating there after complaints from residents about businesses not being open often.

"In the last 14 months, City Walk has had five distressed sales out of five sales, either through short sale or real estate foreclosure," said Mike O'Melveny of Shea Homes. "We don't think there's a market today for City Walk as far as bringing on an additional 10 units. We think there is a definite market for the (townhome) project today."

Vantis resident Jeff Cornelius said the changes would address City Walk's problems.

"City Walk is struggling," he said. "It's really struggling bad, and to add business there is going to be more bad business."

But other residents opposed the change, saying the proposal would destroy the original intent of the project and seriously alter the feel of the Vantis development, which they said they invested in for its aesthetic.

"It's aesthetically not appealing ... if it doesn't look externally like everything else, our property is shot and it ruins the entire community," said Theresa Rowe, who lives on Brownstone Way near the City Walk area.

The live/work units have stucco exterior, metal canopies and flat roofs with parapet walls. The townhomes are divided into three architectural styles: Latitudes North, Latitudes South and Elements. Latitudes North's style is "Brownstone/Rowhouse," with stucco, brick and metal exteriors with metal canopies and flat roofs with parapet walls. Latitudes South is considered "California Contemporary" and includes a stucco and stone exterior, metal awnings and a combination of roof styles. Elements is considered "Traditional/Transitional," with stucco, brick and board and batt siding, wood canopies and gable roofs with cement style.

"Based on some of the issues put forward tonight, we do need to have a discussion," Mayor Carmen Cave said. "I wasn't comfortable coming into the public hearing; (now) I'm even less comfortable making a decision tonight."

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